Gov. Rick Snyder vetoes bill allowing guns in schools

Facing daunting pressure from across Michigan after the school massacre in Connecticut, Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have allowed gun owners with additional training to carry concealed weapons in schools.

Snyder cited language in the proposed law that, unlike what was anticipated from the lame-duck session of the Legislature, would not necessarily let schools opt out of the new rules allowing concealed firearms in the state’s “no-weapons zones,” including churches, sports stadiums, day care centers, bars and hospitals.

Elected officials, teachers, community activists and school officials had bombarded the governor’s office in recent days with calls and emails urging him not to sign the bill. The Snyder veto came a little over an hour after top Macomb County officials sent a letter to Lansing urging rejection of the bill.

“We are pro-Second Amendment and Macomb County provides outstanding services to concealed pistol license applicants. We have streamlined our Macomb County’s CPL application process, implemented online applications, and made CPL permits more tamper-resistant. (But) concealed weapons do not belong at schools or day care or other no-carry zone areas. Please veto these bills,” the letter said.

The veto message, the seventh of Snyder’s term of office, indicated that the governor was influenced by Friday’s mass shooting of 26 people, including 20 young children, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

He also told the Associated Press that he drew on his own memories of a fatal shooting in his college dormitory more than three decades ago. The governor called for a “more comprehensive review of issues” related to gun violence.

“This type of violence often leaves society with more questions than answers,” Snyder wrote. “The reasons for such appalling acts usually are numerous and complex.

“With that in mind, we must consider legislation like SB 59 in a holistic manner. “While the bill’s goal is to help prevent needless violence, Michigan will be better served if we view it through a variety of lenses. A thoughtful review that examines issues such as school emergency policies, disenfranchised youth and mental health services may lead to more answers and better safeguards.”

The Macomb County officials who signed the letter urging a veto were: County Executive Mark Hackel, county Clerk Carmella Sabaugh, Prosecutor Eric Smith, Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Treasurer Ted Wahby. The lone countywide elected official whose signature was not on the letter was Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco, who said a busy schedule on Tuesday prevented him from participating. But Marrocco said he didn’t believe his absence from the county’s plea was significant.

“As public works commissioner, I don’t think I should tell the governor what to do in situations like this,” said the Clinton Township Democrat. “I just don’t follow what the Legislature does if it doesn’t affect our office.”

House Speaker Jase Bolger, one of Snyder’s Republican allies, said he takes solace in the fact that Michigan law still allows people to openly carry guns in schools and day care centers and stadiums.

“I understand the governor exercising his authority. (But) it also is unfortunate that this veto does not make Michigan citizens safer in ‘gun-free zones.’ Neither the governor’s approval nor his veto will stop evil from preying on innocent people,” Bolger said in a statement.

“With this veto, however, open-carry still exists in schools, churches and other public areas, and we know that criminals do not respect gun-free zones. For these reasons, we will continue to work with the governor to best protect our law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights, as well as the safety and security of all of our citizens.”

Snyder’s veto message said the bill’s failure to let schools, day cares and hospitals opt out of the new concealed weapons provisions prompted the veto.

“My original hope with Senate Bill 59 was to reach a compromise by prohibiting the ‘open carry’ of pistols in the … pistol-free zones in exchange for lifting the prohibition on the carrying of concealed weapons in those zones — subject to the approval of the public- or private-property owners,” Snyder wrote.

“The resulting bill only went part way in achieving that goal. The bill would allow private property owners to prohibit a person from carrying a concealed pistol on their private property. It permits certain universities and colleges to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of a concealed pistol. Unfortunately, the bill did not allow public schools, public day care centers or public hospitals to prohibit persons from carrying concealed weapons on their premises.”

The bill also would have transferred control of permits to carry a concealed weapon to county sheriffs exclusively and would have dissolved existing county gun boards.

Despite the veto, the governor signed two other bills related to gun use or ownership.

House Bill 5225 streamlines the process for handgun purchases, and Senate Bill 984 eliminates restrictions on interstate rifle and shotgun transactions to states bordering Michigan.